Preliminary vote count indicates a 99.5 percent approval for the
acquisition; all other ballot items also approved

June 19, 2015 08:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODP), a leading global provider of office
products, services, and solutions, which entered into a definitive
agreement on February 4, 2015, to be acquired by Staples Inc. (NASDAQ:
SPLS), today announced that its shareholders have overwhelmingly
approved the proposal for Staples to acquire all of the outstanding
shares of the company.

At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today, 99.5 percent
of the votes cast were in favor of the transaction. Additionally, all
other ballot items were approved.

Final vote counts are anticipated to be released in a regulatory filing
on Monday, June 22, 2015.

Under the terms of the agreement, Office Depot shareholders will receive
$7.25 in cash and 0.2188 of a share in Staples stock for each Office
Depot share. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the
calendar year 2015 and remains subject to customary closing conditions,
including antitrust regulatory approval.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services,
and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office,
home, school or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work
better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more
productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print
and document services, business services, facilities products,
furniture, and school essentials.

The company has annual sales of approximately $16 billion, employs
approximately 56,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in
56 countries with approximately 1,800 retail stores, award-winning
e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization
– all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations,
joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The
company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot,
OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy, Reliable and Viking. The company’s
portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL, Foray, Brenton
Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and HighMark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found
at: http://news.officedepot.com.